by May, W. J.
“I don’t want you to miss the dance,” she argued weakly.
“Don’t worry. Let me drive you back, and I can head back here after I know you’re all right. Just say the word.” Riley squeezed her wrist.
Going back to the dorm sounded better than staying here watching Devon and Beth fall back in love. She’d vomit all over the dance floor if she had to watch that.
She stared across the room one last time, silently begging Devon to turn her way. Instead, she felt the bracelet he’d given her slip off her wrist, like a sign telling her to give up. She bent down to pick it up, and heard gasps behind her. Remembering her outfit had been designed to show off her tatù if she bent over, she straightened as fast as she could and pulled the back of her top down with lightning speed. She could hear the whispers from the Roe Hampton girls and saw Beth, a smug look on her face, lean over to whisper to a surprised Devon. Rae grabbed Riley’s arm, not paying any attention to the smirk on his face.
“Let’s go.” She pulled him toward the exit.
“Hold up." Riley stopped just outside. “I gotta tell Molly I’m bringing you back. If any of the professors ask, Molly can explain.”
The fresh air offered nothing to cool her burning face. She could feel a headache starting at the back of her head, creeping its way to the front. Riley raced back out of the large metal doors and helped her into his car. She sat in the passenger seat and covered her face with her hands as he drove.
Rae didn’t glance up until she felt the car roll to a stop and felt the car rock when Riley got out. She lifted her head, and had to blink, surprised to see they were parked in front of the Main Building. Riley opened her door to help her out.
“What’re we doing here? Are the gates locked or something?” Rae tried to focus, the headache putting dots in front of her vision.
“No. Dean Carter asked me to bring you here.” Riley’s answer came out curt.
“Carter?” Just freakin’ great! What a topper to a screwed up evening.
Riley grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the building door, kicking it open with his foot.
“Let go!” She tried to shaking her arm free. “Riley, you’re hurting me. I don’t want to see Dean Carter tonight. I just want to go back to my room.”
“Sorry, but you need to see the dean. Right now.” Riley continued to pull her up the stairs.
Too ticked to resist him, she jerked her arm free. “Fine, but this had better be quick.” She stomped up the stairs, passing Riley and barging into the dean’s office. She didn’t even bother to knock. She was too angry to worry about being polite.
Dean Carter stood leaning against his desk. He’d been checking his watch. He smiled when he saw Rae and Riley come into the room.
“Well done,” he said, clapping his hands slowly, making her head ache with each loud, percussive clap.
Rae opened her mouth and then glanced at Riley.
“Thanks.” Riley puffed his chest. “It was easy. I just told Kerrigan the Wardell boy was back with his old Roe Hampton bit-girl. Kerrigan fell for it.” He snickered. “She hesitated, but I slipped the stupid bracelet he bought her off her wrist. Suddenly, she was more determined than me to leave. She feigned being sick, and now the entire school thinks I’m taking her back to her dorm room.” His face and shoulders bunched in excitement. Rae felt nauseous when she realized how easily she had been tricked.
“Fine.” Carter flipped his wrist to dismiss Riley. “Go to Rae’s dorm room. Make her bed look like it’s been slept in and then grab her backpack and throw some clothes in it. Make it look like she’s gone somewhere purposely. Then go back to the dance and let everyone know, especially Lanford, that she’s resting.”
“Yes, sir.” Riley turned and headed out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Rae watched Riley leave. She was completely shocked at what had just occurred, but the pieces all slid into place in her mind. This had been planned. Dean Carter wanted to be alone with her. For what reason?
She turned to eye him cautiously, jerking back in surprise when she found his face hovered only inches away from hers.
Great…what do I do now?
Chapter 22
Destiny
“What do you want from me?” Rae whispered, taking another step back.
Dean Carter grabbed Rae’s arm. Instantly visions of his life began appearing behind her eyelids as if she were watching them live. She stood frozen. She couldn’t have moved if she wanted to.
She saw a younger version of the dean, in this very room, standing with her father, making a pact to screw the greater good of mankind. Another vision popped in to show Dean Carter and her father, a few years older, arguing. It became clear that Simon intended to use his ability to make them more than just powerful-- to run the British government and let the world know about the abilities their tatùs gave them. They were going to terrify the world; force everyone to follow them, for their own safety and protection, they mocked.
The visions stopped. Shocked, Rae stared, open mouthed, at Dean Carter. “You worked with my father?”
The Dean straightened as if he’d been slapped. “I was once your father’s friend. Things changed.”
“Whatever.” Rae let her eyes slide toward the closed door and took a step toward it.
“No, my dear,” Dean Carter said. “You aren’t going anywhere for a bit.” He moved around her and blocked the entrance.
Rae shook her head. This can’t be happening.
The dean leaned in closer, his breath hot against her face, making her shudder. “You know, I’m not the bad guy. I’m the one actually on your side. We need to get you somewhere safe.”
“Out of this room and away from you seems my safest option.” Rae clenched her teeth, thinking back over the evening. “You had Riley trick and drag me out of the dance and –”
“Something’s going to happen tonight. The Privy Council believes you are in danger. Riley wants a job, so he’s willing to do anything it takes.”
“Riley’s an idiot.” And so are you if you think I’m going to believe you.
“I’ll explain things better once we get you away from here. My car’s in the parking lot.” He opened the door and turned around to motion at Rae with his hand. “Come on now. We haven’t much time.”
Rae opened her mouth to protest but not get further than the “O” shape of her mouth. A large piece of wood rose above the dean’s head and came crashing down on the top of it. He crumpled to the ground and slumped forward.
With wide eyes, Rae watched a familiar looking cane push the dean’s arm out of the way. Headmaster Lanford appeared in the door way, out of breath.
“A-Are you a-alright?” He took one look at her and tapped his cane against the ground. “What did he say to you?”
Rae glanced from the motionless dean to the headmaster and back down again. “Nothing. But I think you need to call the cops.” She scurried around to his side, avoiding all contact with the dean’s prone form.
Lanford slipped his arm around her and with an iron grip, pulled her across the waiting area. “I’m glad I got here in time.”
“Thank goodness.” Rae reached for the handle of the exit door when they came to it.
“No, dear.” The headmaster pulled her closer to him, his hand covered in the material of his jacket. He didn’t seem to want to touch her. “We need to let them think you’ve left but the safest place is through that door.” He pointed to an ancient looking oak door that obviously led to the other tower room. “Let’s get you in there and I’ll explain everything.”
He opened the door and led Rae through. The room was round like the dean's office, but about four stories high with no windows except near the top. Round with nothing in it but a flat screen TV hooked up to a laptop on a very small table.
Rae walked over the rough, cobbled floor to the laptop. “What’s this for?”
“Move back a bit and I’ll show you.” The headmaster stood behind her.
; Rae pressed back against the wall so Lanford could get by. He stood in front, facing her. “Let’s get this sorted.” He lifted his arm and flicked his hand.
Rae jumped when a pair of cold clamps locked around her wrist. She started down in surprise. “What the --?”
Confused, Rae watched as an evil grin split Lanford’s face, transforming him completely from the kind and protective man she thought she had come to know, into a total stranger. This scary figure made her heart race with fear. It reminded her of… her father. Before she had the chance to even raise her arms to protect herself, Lanford used his tatù to slam her back against the wall, cracking her head against the rough, ancient brick. She blacked out.
When she came to, her head throbbing like a bass drum, she reached to rub the back of her head, only to realize her hand couldn’t get her arms that far. She’d been shackled with metal chains screwed into the wall on the other side of the room. Lanford sat close by, doing his typical invisible chair routine.
“What’re you doing?” Rae blinked trying to clear her head. “You’re on my side. The dean’s the one…” She paused remembering him saying that he wasn’t the bad guy. Her brain rushed to bring back all the encounters she’d had with the dean and Lanford, seeing everything in a new light. Her head felt as if it were spinning, and not from the lump on the back of her head.
Something inside the headmaster changed. His face scrunched and he glared at her. “I’ve been at this bloody school longer than one man should have to. I helped your father as a student and what does he do? He turns his back on me. Leaves me here to rot with promises that he’ll come back.” Lanford’s mouth pressed tight and he shook his head. “We devised a plan and what happens? He goes and gets himself killed.”
“My mother –”
Lanford lunged forward off his perch shouting “Your mother ruined everything!” He took a deep breath, then two, calming himself and patting his riotous combover. Lanford carefully straightened his waistcoat and said with incongruent calm, “But now I have you…someone with your father’s ability.”
Rae couldn’t wrap her head around the idea that this man she had trusted had been deceiving her all this time, yet it was true. The cold metal chains were irrefutable truth. “You can’t keep me locked up in here. People are looking for me.”
The headmaster tsked. “No one’s going to look tonight. Your roommate will think you’re with Riley and, by tomorrow, it won’t matter as I’ll have you convinced to work with me.” He smiled wickedly, his combover falling out of place. He looked like he’d gone mad. From Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde…
“Your father and I devised this intriguing plan before he died. Now, you will help me complete HOC.”
“HOC? What, is that some file or something?” Rae shook her head. “I’ll never help you finish something my father started.” Rae pulled herself from off the ground. “You can go screw yourself!”
The headmaster slapped her face with a gust of air, not touching her with his hand. He smirked and stayed out of her reach, making it impossible for her to fight back or protect herself. In an oddly sing-song voice, Lanford continued talking as if they were politely discussing the weather. “You have your father’s impatience. He killed many good men too quickly because of that little angry streak of his. That’s something we'll have to remedy in you.” Lanford checked his watch and then straightened his jacket and tie.
“I need to make an appearance at the dance, so I’ll leave you.” Rae started to retort, but Lanford held up a hand, pushing air directly at her face, causing her body to instinctively react, closing off her airways. She doubled over trying to force her lungs to take in oxygen. He continued talking as if they were having a normal conversation. “Don’t worry. I shall return in a short while. In the meantime, watch the videos and take mental notes. These are skills I’ll be requiring of you. Watch it, and listen closely.”
Frustration and anger roiled inside of her. She felt guilty, for having suspected the dean all this time, when really the danger had been much closer to her. She remembered her meeting with the dean in his tower office at the beginning of the school year. “I’ll get out of here. These rooms are round and you’re…the devil. You can’t trap me in a corner,” she hissed.
Lanford laughed at her. “Kerrigan, you’re already trapped. What’re you doing to do? Vision your way out of the room? You’ve got Carter’s tatù and it’s useless. You have no ‘fuel’ to use. It was your father’s one weakness, one I plan to liberally exploit in you.” He paused, pointing to the floor. “There are a few bottles of water within reach for you. Don’t overdo it as you’ll have to wet yourself if you need to go. That’s always the first thing to go with you females and I’m not cleaning up any mess.” He gave her a fond, almost fatherly smile, causing her stomach to turn. He’s insane…he’s got to be insane…and I’ve trusted him all this time!
Rae glanced to where he’d pointed and heard the dull click of the door as it locked. He’d moved and disappeared faster than she thought he could. She wondered if anyone knew he could move so quickly. Probably not. He seems to be great at hiding things. Jerk.
She stayed where she was, propped up against the cool wall, waiting to see if the headmaster would come back. She jerked when the laptop monitor flickered and the flat screen turned the semi-dark room an eerie blue color. A video began to play. She listened as the narrator explained that it was an instructional video.
A lifespan is spent seeking success and happiness. One chases after dreams, careers, ambitions, faith, partners and money; all in the hope of finding the success and contentment they so long for. The only place we need to search is within ourselves. Our inner powers will move us forward - we must show the world our tatùs. Our capabilities and potential are far greater than anything man has ever done, or will do. We are above mankind -- above the law which rules over them.
That voice…something about that voice. What was it? Why did it tickle her memory? Her heart stopped when she realized the narrator was her father. Rae dropped the floor in the middle of the room and hugged her knees to her chest, trying to protect herself from the memories. His voice reminded her only of the time he’d been so mean and scared her as a child. She’d trusted him, because he was her father, but he’d turned on her that night. She began to cry. She’d trusted the headmaster completely and he… he… she couldn’t even finish her train of thought. She’d never suspected any of this.
She felt so lost, so afraid and bloody cold. She had iron shackles on her wrists and the ancient, heavy metal chains felt like ice as they rubbed against her legs and arms. The entire room was cold, and her Tinker Bell outfit wasn’t made to promote warmth. Her thin jacket didn’t help much, either. Her teeth chattered as tears coursed down her cheeks.
How did she get into this mess? Her uncle’s words screamed back at her: the sins of the father are the sins of the son. You can’t undo the past, Rae.
She curled into the fetal position on the cold marble. Her foot bumped against something, and with dismay, Rae realized she’d knocked over one of the bottles of water. She felt wetness against her shoe and quickly realized the marble floor wouldn’t absorb any of the liquid.
Swearing, she scooted over as much as the shackles would allow. She was already shivering. The last thing she needed was to slip into hypothermia too. She could hear the video with her father’s voice telling her she could be part of a bigger picture, a new dream for the world with endless opportunities, yet she saw no great potential in this situation. How freakin’ ironic.
Her uncle had been right; no one was going to come save her. Her only freedom would be death, the same choice her mother had made. She’d sacrificed everything to stop her father. Rae wondered if maybe she’d need to do the same thing in order to stop Lanford.
What can I do? Her ability was useless right now. Mimicking Carter wasn’t going to help her escape. Rae banged her head on the floor, trying to come up with something – anything that would give her a glimmer of hope. The a
che in her heard made her gasp, but it was preferable to her inner pain. At least it was real and tangible. She thought about her friends and immediately Devon came to mind. I’m such an IDIOT for believing Riley. Devon’s not back with Beth. She’d been such a dummy. She needed to find a way to protect him.
Rae cringed as she remembered the picture Julian had shown her. He’d been convinced the vision meant she’d been in danger. The sketch was about right now, not about her chasing after her own personal demons. Wait…it was about now…right now… She shuddered at a realization. Those were real demons, the ghost of her father, in a round room… What was with the eye of Carter watching me? He actually had said he was on her side.
She abruptly sat up. The eye…watching me… She looked up, squinting trying to see if there were any video cameras watching her every move. She was pretty sure there would be. She strained, trying to force her eyes to focus on the dimly lit ceiling. It felt like she was trapped in the tower of London, with King Henry VIII about to execute her. She wished she had Devon’s tatù right then. His night-vision would allow him to clearly see that high up in the dark. She squinted again and began to pick out a small, flashing red light. She knew immediately it was a camera, and it was recording her every move. The knowledge brought her no comfort.
How long before Lanford comes back? She thought about how disappointed her mother would have been with this end, how brief her life was and how little she had done with it. That thought brought fresh tears to her eyes. Oh Mom…it’s not fair! Why should we have to sacrifice ourselves to stop the bad people? I grew up without you and now I have to die to save the freakin’ world? But what choice did she have?
She was all alone, and no one was going to save her. She’d never finish her father’s work like Lanford wanted, she refused to even consider it. What she’d seen in his visions of her father was enough to show her that she was nothing like him.